The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially published the recruitment notification for the Central Armed Police Forces. Aspiring candidates looking to build a prestigious career as Group A Gazetted Officers can now check the details and access the UPSC CAPF AC Application Form 2026 Link (Active) β Click to Apply to submit their candidature. This recruitment drive aims to fill 349 Assistant Commandant vacancies across various premier security forces in India.
UPSC CAPF Notification 2026 Overview
Released on 20th February 2026, the notification opens doors for eligible graduates to join elite paramilitary and internal security forces. Candidates should keep track of important milestones, including the final submission deadline on 12th March 2026. For a broader view of upcoming exams, aspirants can cross-verify schedules using the UPSC Exam Calendar 2026.
| Exam Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Forces | Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) |
| Posts | Assistant Commandants (AC) |
| Vacancies | 349 |
| Last Registration Date | 12th March 2026 |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Selection Process | Written Test Physical Test/Medical Test Interview/Personality Test |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Official website | www.upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates & Schedule
Candidates must complete their registration procedures before the final timeline expires. Furthermore, registered candidates can anticipate their hall tickets ahead of the written test. You can check updates and secure your credentials via the UPSC CAPF AC Admit Card 2026 Out β Click to Download page once available in the first week of July 2026.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 20th February 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 20th February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 12th March 2026 |
| Admit Card Release Date | July 2026 (1st week) |
| Written Exam Date | 19th July 2026 |
Vacancy Distribution Across Forces
The 349 vacancies are distributed among various prominent security agencies. Detailed breakdown checklist for the forces:
- BSF (Border Security Force)
- CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force)
- CISF (Central Industrial Security Force)
- ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police)
- SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal)
| Security Forces | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Border Security Force (BSF) | 108 |
| Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) | 106 |
| Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) | 70 |
| Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) | 12 |
| Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) | 53 |
| Total | 349 |
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must ensure they fulfill the educational qualification and age restrictions stipulated by the Union Public Service Commission. Notably, there are no restrictions on the total number of attempts allowed for the UPSC CAPF Exam.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Education Qualification | The candidate must hold a Bachelorβs Degree/Graduation from any recognised university to be eligible for the UPSC CAPF 2026 Exam. Candidates currently appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree course are also permitted to apply, provided they produce their final year mark sheet alongside the detailed application form. |
| Age Limit (as on 01/08/2026) | Minimum Age β 20 years Maximum Age β 25 years Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 2001 and not later than 1st August 2006 |
Physical and Medical Standards
Candidates must meet specific physical and optical parameters to qualify through the recruitment stages.
| Physical Standards | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm | 157 cm |
| Chest (unexpanded) | 81 cm (with 5 cm minimum expansion) | (Not applicable) |
| Weight | 50 kg | 46 kg |
Medical Standards (Eyesight Checklist)
- Distant vision - Better eye (corrected vision): 6/6 OR 6/9
- Distant vision - Worse eye (corrected vision): 6/12 OR 6/9
- Near Vision - Better eye (corrected): N6
- Near Vision - Worse eye (corrected): N9
| Eyesight | Better eye (corrected vision) | Worse eye (corrected vision) |
|---|---|---|
| Distant vision | 6/6 OR 6/9 | 6/12 OR 6/9 |
| Near Vision | N6 (corrected) | N9 (corrected) |
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
The selection pipeline consists of structured stages to evaluate applicants rigorously:
- Written Test
- Physical Test/Medical Test (PET & Medical Test)
- Interview/Personality Test
| Stages | Selection Process | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Written Exam | Objective and descriptive papers to test knowledge, reasoning, and communication skills |
| Stage 2 | PET & Medical Test | Evaluates candidatesβ physical fitness and medical suitability for paramilitary roles |
| Stage 3 | Interview/Personality Test | Assesses leadership qualities, communication skills, and overall suitability for the role |
Exam Pattern Breakdown
- UPSC CAPF Exam consists of 02 papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2.
- Paper I consists of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) with a negative marking of 1/3rd mark for each wrong answer.
- Paper II is in a descriptive format.
- Paper I duration is 2 hours; Paper II duration is 3 hours.
- Papers I & II are in bilingual language & English, excluding the English paper.
- Paper I is a qualifying stage; only those who qualify Paper 1 have their Paper 2 evaluated.
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General and Mental Ability | 125 | 250 | 02 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension | 07 | 200 | 03 hours |
Salary Structure
Selected candidates appointed as Assistant Commandants receive an attractive pay scale ranging from Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500, with progression across higher command ranks.
| Rank | Pay Scale (Basic Pay) |
|---|---|
| Director-General | Rs. 2,25,000 |
| Additional Director General | Rs. 1,82,200 β Rs. 2,24,100 |
| Inspector General | Rs. 1,44,000 β Rs. 2,18,000 |
| Deputy Inspector General | Rs. 1,31,000 β Rs. 2,16,600 |
| Sr. Commandant | Rs. 1,23,000 β Rs. 2,15,900 |
| Commandant | Rs. 78,800 β Rs. 2,09,200 |
| Deputy Commandant | Rs. 67,700 β Rs. 2,08,700 |
| Assistant Commandant | Rs. 56,100 β Rs. 1,77,500 |
Official Notification Reference
For complete verification and detailed guidelines, candidates can review the official document: CAPF AC Notification 2026 PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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